Take the Risk: Travel is Worth it.

As a traveler, the thought of not traveling is unfathomable to me. To me, it’s such a hugely important part of my life that I have never really considered what it would be like to just stay in one place or to go on the same trip over and over again.

People often have a lot of excuses as to why they don’t travel. If that excuse is that they simply aren’t interested in travel, that’s fair enough. However, most people I hear cite things such as not having enough money, not having enough time, or being afraid as the reason they don’t travel. If you’re one of those people, I’m here to tell you that travel is absolutely worthwhile and you should take the risk.

What Risk?

Many people don’t travel because, for one reason or another, they are afraid. They are afraid of spending the money. They are afraid of taking too much time off of work. They are afraid of the unknown. I do understand. Those things can be scary. However, I am here to tell you that if fear is what is holding you back, you have no reason to be afraid. Travel is such a wonderful, enjoyable experience and it will absolutely change your life for the better.

Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee

If money is the issue, try saving up before you go. Not only will you have a goal to look forward to, but when you do finally take the trip, you won’t be worried about putting money on your credit card and getting into debt.

If you’re worried about time off of work, remember that you only have so much time in this life and you should spend as much of that time on things you enjoy. If you’ve always wanted to see Tahiti but you never went because you were worried about time off of work, you’ll regret that someday. When you’re very old and you look back at your life, it is the joyful memories you’ll remember with the most fondness. Get out there and create some joyful memories.

Enjoying a beautiful graveyard in Edinburgh, Scotland

If it’s fear of the unknown that’s holding you back, you’re just going to have to dive in and take the risk. You don’t need to start with the “most hardcore” trip out there. If you’re worried about things like language barriers and not being able to get around, try traveling somewhere that speaks the same language as you. Since this is an English language blog, I can assume all of you speak English. There are so many wonderful places in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland to visit, and guess what? All of those countries speak English! If you don’t know how to get around, you can just ask somebody. Even if you’re visiting a non-English speaking country, you’ll often find it’s very easy to get around and communicate with people. Often times people who work in the tourism industry do speak English, and even if you encounter somebody who doesn’t, it’s not too hard to learn a few words in another language or use gestures and pointing to get a point across. Plus, that’s half the fun!

If a trip seems ‘too hardcore’ for you and that’s holding you back, you can always hire a guide if you’re nervous and would like somebody to show you around.

Don’t let fear hold you back from traveling. Trust me when I say it’s worth the risk!